VAR accusation launched over Gabriel headbutt on Erling Haaland and refusal to give red card

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Alan Shearer has delivered a critical verdict of VAR following the clash between Gabriel Magalhaes and Erling Haaland during Manchester City ’s win over Arsenal , accusing the officials of not implementing the rules properly.

City claimed a 2-1 victory over the Gunners in the Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Haaland scored the winning goal for City, who also had Rayan Cherki on the scoresheet, who had his effort cancelled out in the first half after Kai Havertz closed down Gianluigi Donnarumma's clearance.

As the match reached the final 10 minutes of the game, there was a heated exchange between Haaland and Gabriel, where the Arsenal defender appeared to push his head towards the City striker.

Referee Anthony Taylor issued both players yellow cards following the incident, with the decision being confirmed by VAR, which led to City boss Pep Guardiola also being booked following his protests.

Shearer has now given his verdict on VAR and the lack of a red card for Gabriel, where the Newcastle legend was critical of the decision.

“The VAR sent the referee to the screen last week in the Man United game [vs Leeds] for a tiny tug of the hair, if anything, and [Lisandro] Martinez is sent off for violent conduct,” Shearer said on the Rest is Football podcast.

“Yet you look at Gabriel, who shoved his head into Haaland’s head, how on earth is that not a red card? Seriously, what is going on in our game with VAR?

“My take on it is that they [VAR] probably said, ‘We don’t really want to get involved in the title race, and we might not be seen sending someone else off..

“I think Haaland has done Gabriel a favour by not going to the ground, because so many other players would have gone to the ground when he stuck his head into his.

“Clear red card it should have been.”

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Shearer was joined on the podcast by Gary Lineker and Micah Richards, with the former Everton and Barcelona striker in agreement with his colleague.

“I agree, it was a red card,” Lineker said.

Richards then argued why he understood the reason why Taylor did not give a red card to Gabriel, but was still in agreement that the Arsenal defender should have been sent off.

“In fairness, in a game of this magnitude, I totally agree with you, and you both raise good points,” Richards said.

“But you don’t want to see someone sent off for that. By the laws of the game, he [Gabriel] should have been sent off, we all know that.

“Because there was so much back and forth, as a viewer and someone impartial watching the game, you don’t want to see someone get sent off for that.

“However, I understand both of your points. It was just that it was back and forth, I totally understand why the referee has not given it.

“But by the laws, he [Gabriel] should have been [sent] off, I agree.”

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